Wednesday morning
It was 2 days after Maggie and Luther had ice cream. It was then that they waited for each other at a given location by Maggs. It was her idea for each other to have breakfast on their way to school. Maggie spotted Luther waiting at the bench, where the bus stops. She saw him searching his eyes through the crowded people, as his eyes locked upon Maggie's, he smiled. Her heart beats like she's been in a marathon, her cheeks turn red. The curse of being red-headed 'I can't let him notice my face this red!' She thought to herself. As she about to look away, she notices the ray of sunlight dashes on the face of Luther while he walks towards her way. The feeling of euphoria rushes down her body, as she couldn't stop staring at the grinning boy. The thought of him always comes through Maggie's mind, as she can't stop thinking about him all the time. He was this mixture of candy and honey—- Oh the honey, she remembered. He was like a drug to her. Honey always reminds her of his eyes, as he smelled like lemon summer, she loves his scent whenever he's close to her. Oh, she hoped to be close to him every time. Their eyes gazed upon each other, as the people passing by suddenly disappeared—- and all of the sudden, all she can hear is her faint heartbeat. It was as if it's she's in a romance movie.
Though, it was a little odd. Maggie notices the bags under Luther's eyes. And apparently, it seems like the grinning boy has not been sleeping for a whole week now. She was just staring at him, her smiles slowly disappeared. As she looked in a different direction and walked towards him.
Luther also realized that he was staring at her eyes, he whispered under his breath saying 'I never realize that her eyes were a hue of jade green.' He never notices her smile considering he always look at her smile because it was always gleaming. It's was pretty he thought. He smiled in which Maggie was a little curious of, "what were you smiling for?" She asked.
Luther's cheeks flushed, as he sheepishly glances at the road. "Nothing." The iridescent sky bloomed above the horizons and it was perfect, just him looking at Maggie, as the light coruscated on her eyes making Luther's heart skipped a beat. He loves it when the wind passes through her hair, as it flies away gracefully like a butterfly. He loves it.
'No, I can't think of her like this. She's a friend.' He thought to himself.
They walk in silence which is new for both of them, they couldn't understand the uncertain feeling that both of them felt beneath their heart, but part of Maggie not speaking is that her best friend seems like he hasn't been sleeping in a while. She wanted to ask what's wrong but she was too scared to speak out of the quiet atmosphere. It was the sense of awkwardness that flew through the morning air with them.
As the hue of the skies was painted above them and Luther notices how it would be perfect if he took a photo of her and the sky.
He would never say that, normally, Luther will just ask Maggie to take the view because she is has a talent for taking photographs. She makes them extra beautiful. But today, Luther wants something more, he wants to take a picture of the two beautiful things in front of him.
'Two beautiful things? I think I've been saying nonsense these days now.'
"Luther, let's go in."
They were in front of a small coffee shop covered with vines and it seems like a few only know this location. Maggie found this in Tumblr and it would be nice to bring Luther to a place like this. The atmosphere of coffee and pastries welcomed them and Maggie couldn't help but take a look at the pastries at the counter, as Luther giggled at the cuteness of Maggie's face while choosing what to eat.
"Uhhh, Lulu?" Maggie looks back at him with a confused look on her face. Luther responded with a 'hmm' as Maggie replied, "help me what to get," she pouted. Luther softly chuckled, he then walks towards the confused red-headed and told the cashier what they're going to get. "What was that?" He looked at her with a look on his face and what looks like he's trying to say is, 'trust me'
Their day started with biology class and a seat-work that Luther needed a little help with Maggie. Even though he drifts to sleep in some classes, well of course, not the very professional sleeping at class. He got caught multiple times now. Nonetheless, this made Maggie very anxious.
'What made him get sleepless at night?' She thought. Surely it wasn't a family problem. Nor school, Maggie has been a great help to Luther when it comes to academic problems.
After school, Luther was munching the cupcakes that they ordered as Maggie drank her soda. They were gonna study for a quiz for next week. Even though school started, the teacher wanted to train the kids because it was their senior year. A quiz she thought might help, but not for Luther. It was chemistry and Luther is having a hard time understanding the equations the teacher had just discussed. "How did you get the value of this?" Luther scratched his head. "You just have to evaluate Luther, we have to find the x and then we evaluate. Blah blah blah." Maggie explained. Luther tried to solve the equation in his head as he happily explained to Maggie the final answer. She's glad that Luther got it correctly. "I got it? Yay!" Luther smiled.
"You know, Maggs. I've been thinking, what if suddenly I died?" Luther blurted out.
"What do you mean? Don't say such stupid things," she rolls her eyes. But she's worried, what's up with him?
"I don't know, it doesn't suit me, no?" He says as he pinches Maggie's cheeks. She shouted 'aw' as she chases Luther.
They were walking back to her house, on his left hand, he was holding a cupcake, on his right is the notes Maggie written for him.
"Lu! Please look at where you're going!" Maggie says irritated because he's been careless. But she can't stop thinking about the dark circles under his eyes. She's been clueless for the whole day she's with him, she at least wanted to know what's been going on with not only the love of her life but also her best friend.
While Maggie was busy thinking of her best friend, Luther has been staring at her for the whole time, he didn't even realize that he was gazing up at her. She was stunning, even with her messy hair and the crossed look on her face. He can't deny that she was beautiful even at this angle.
Not until Luther saw his own face.
He was pale shocked. He saw himself across the street. His headaches, his head is spinning. He shut his eyes.
Seconds after that, he fainted.
As Maggie was peacefully sleeping on the stool at the hospital Luther was confined at. The doctor woke her up to talk to her.
"Is there any relative that is close to him? Any guardian or parents?"
Maggie shook her head, "he's always been alone because his parents are always staying abroad." She answers. The doctor hesitates, whether to tell her or not, but he has no choice since he has no guardian to tell them. "He has FFI or Fatal familial insomnia." He sigh. "What's that?"
"It's a rare case of insomnia, and only a number of patients that are teens are diagnosed with this disease. Considering it fatal, people that are diagnosed with this disease have limited time in this world that at least lasts a year or two. Either one of his parents suffered from one, and he inherited it."
Maggie gasped, she was shocked. 'A year or two? I thought he had a life ahead of him. I thought I'd see you one day having the success I want you to have.'
"I think it's better if you tell him, in which you could calm him down if he ever breaks down." The doctor suggested. "He might stay here for a long time to keep him healthy as long as possible."
Maggie felt bad, she didn't want him to feel bad. For as long as she can remember, she saw Luther as a perfect person, who would fall in love and grow old. A year or two? He's only 18, he's too young for this.
'Why now? Why does it have to be you?'